IN-Newsletter Vol. 38, No. 20 June 25, 2014 - Covers the period June 15-21. Upcoming Meetings and Events Centennial Convention Steering Committee Meeting July 1 @ 3:30pm in Newington, CT Centennial Convention July 17-20 in Hartford / Newington, CT Administration & Finance Committee July 20 @ 8:30am in Hartford, CT Programs & Services Committee July 20 @ 8:30am in Hartford, CT Second Board Meeting July 21-22, 2014 @ 9:00am in Hartford, CT Lab Reported by Ed Hare, W1RFI Product Review Bob Allison has been working with a manufacturer of an HF RF amplifier that has a number of unexpected issues. With Bob's detective work, much important data and observations were passed along to the manufacturer, which was greatly appreciated. Modifications are being made and firmware will be updated to handle the changes, thus improving the product. The Lab's screen room test equipment has been removed for their yearly calibration by Essco Laboratories, in Chelmsford, MA. While away, new equipment racks and hardware will be installed in the screen room to accommodate the Lab's new spectrum analyzer and phase noise test set. Other existing racks will be repurposed; one will contain Rohde and Schwarz test equipment, on wheels, that can be used at any test bench in the Lab. Historical Collection Bob Allison brought some of his collection which will be used for the lobby display during the Centennial. Some items have been in storage for 20 years and will need a little cleaning, which the Lab's volunteers enjoy thoroughly. Radio Frequency Interference Mike Gruber investigated an RFI complaint in Wethersfield with the assistance of Lab volunteers Keiko Kaplan and Pete Turbide. Although we were unable to determine the exact source of the problem, we have it narrowed down considerably. The complainant, Roger, K1PAI lives close enough that a follow-up visit is relatively easy to plan. Web Zack Lau put up the propagation forecasts for July. The predicted solar flux is a very high 144. He also updated the "Your First Antenna" page, removing an old feedline article and replacing it with a simple 2M vertically polarized Yagi construction project. Centennial Celebration The ARRL Laboratory and workshop continues to take shape for our Centennial celebration. The workshop area has been extensively cleaned and arranged for it to once again be useful for construction of projects. All obsolete equipment and parts have been removed, all useful parts are now stored in what was once the circuit board etching room. Lab Volunteers Bob Allison has been working with volunteers Keiko Kaplan, KB1PFF and Pete Turbide, W1PT to get the Lab in shape for the Centennial. Keiko and Pete boxed up a lot of the old Lab's obsolete surplus parts and gadgets, removing them from the Lab's machine shop. A lot of the Lab's surplus will be sold at the Lab's flea market table at the Hartford Convention Center. Pete and Keiko also skillfully evaluated and at times, repaired obsolete Amateur radio equipment. Membership & Volunteer Programs Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N Field Organization/Public Service Team Leona Adams completed preparations for the Southern Florida Section Manager election between Jeff Beals, WA4AW, and Tom Gallagher, NY2RF. Candidate statements and ballots were sent off to the local printer at the end of the week. She has been coordinating the upcoming mailing of the ballots with our Mailroom Staff. The ballots are scheduled to be mailed from Headquarter by or before July 1. Leona and Steve Ewald have also been working with the new, incoming Section Managers who are starting their terms of office on July 1. Sincerely Compiled by, Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO Hamfest/Member Contact/ARRL Representative/Meetings/Vacations All Staff 7/4 Holiday Leona Adams 6/30-7/3 PTO Bob Allison 7/2-7/3 PTO `` 8/11-8/14 PTO Allison Barbieri 8/25 PTO Steve Capodicasa 9/22-9/26 PTO Joe Carcia 6/26 PTO `` 6/30-7/7 PTO `` 7/25 PTO Lauren Clarke 8/16-8/17 Southeastern Division Convention, Huntsville, AL Mike Corey 8/8-8/10 Rocky Mountain Division Convention, Albuquerque, NM Steve Ford 7/3 PTO `` 7/22-8/4 PTO Mike Gruber 6/27 PTO `` 8/25-8/29 PTO Dan Henderson 6/25-7/3 Friedrichshafen Hamfest / PTO `` 8/1-8/2 Texas State Convention, Austin, TX `` 8/12-8/21 GAREC/Southeastern Division Convention, Huntsville, AL/PTO Bob Inderbitzen 8/16-8/17 Southeastern Division Convention, Huntsville, AL Zack Lau 6/27-6/30 PTO